WOMEN OF SNL

By Kristin Demaggio on January 31, 2014

Women aren’t funny.
Ask Christopher Hitchens or Jerry Lewis their thoughts on the matter and they’ll tell you exactly why this is true.
Whether it’s because women shouldn’t lower themselves and “diminish [their] qualities”, or because men essentially MUST make women laugh in order to keep the species going, there are plenty of arguments out there that try to back this claim up. For close to 40 years, however, this idea has been challenged and constantly proven wrong by a little show called Saturday Night Live (SNL).
One of two things come to mind when talking about SNL—either this season’s cast sucks, or you have to have real talent to make it on SNL. You might even think both at the same time. Whichever way you look at it, you have to admit that the show helped produce some of comedy’s greats, many of whom, are incidentally, women. Over time, the show would develop a solid framework to one of the funniest female lineups in the show’s history.
This season’s cast may very well be the second coming of this generation’s notorious “Women of SNL.” While it was crazy to think that Tina Fey and Amy Poehler could be replaced, we were graced with Kristen Wiig and Maya Rudolph.

While comparing to previous seasons, I admittedly took to the new members the same way a child takes to a new stepparent; I was wary and very quick to judge. With time, I slowly but surely liking each character these funny women created. The three (arguably) funniest women currently on the show, Aidy Bryant, Cecily Strong and Kate McKinnon, each have very different styles of humor and delivery, but they play seamlessly to their strengths.
Many of Bryant’s characters seem to have a come-from-behind level of hilarity that steals the entire skit. Her character Morgan from the sketch “Girlfriends Talk Show”, played alongside Cecily Strong, is one of her most notable scene stealing characters. If you tuned into the episode that Drake hosted, you can attest to this.
Cecily Strong’s humor is subtler, but that’s not to say she is any less hilarious. One of her best characters, the Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation With at a Party, embodies that person (girl or boy) who seems to think they’ve got everything figured out in terms of activism, only to make a complete fool of themselves. Many of Strong’s characters have a quirkier, nasally edge to them, but leave you mimicking them for at least a day after (or is that just me?).
Finally, Kate McKinnon may be the biggest rising star of the past few seasons. Getting her start in April 2012, McKinnon has proven that she’s game for just about anything and that she’s as versatile as they come.
We value our comedy too much to laugh at just any old thing. If expectations are keeping you from tuning in to the current season, throw them out the window and embrace these funny ladies.